§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason there is no centre for the provision of digital hearing aids in the south-east of England. [60581]
§ Ms BlearsI apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.
There are currently three centres for the provision of digital hearing aids in the south-east region of the national health service. They are situated at East Berkshire Community Health NHS Trust, Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust and Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust.